From left to right: Photo 2 © Daniel Marcos

Spain

Zaragoza

Zaragoza, capital of the former Kingdom of Aragón, is the fifth city in Spain in terms of population with 700,000 inhabitants. It is located in the north-east of Spain, in the centre of the Ebro Valley. It is equidistant from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao – the four cities are at 300 Km away approximately – and connects with Europe through the Pyrenees becoming a strategic enclave for communications.

The strategic location of Zaragoza is helping to make logistics and supply chain management one of the most powerful sectors in the local economy. The main economic sector during the last decades has been the metal and the automotive sector. In Zaragoza there is one of the main factories of the Opel- GM group, now PSA factory.

PLAZA, the largest logistics platform in the southern Europe, covering 12,800,000 m2. The training given in the Zaragoza Logistic Center, in cooperation with the Massachussets Technological Institute, has turned Zaragoza into an international reference point supported by the growth in its airport, which is now the second most important in Spain for air cargo and has regular air services to destinations on the five continents.

The establishment of big trademarks in the industrial area of Zaragoza diversifies as well the production; it is worth mentioning the commitment to renewable energies, recycling and sustainable development.

The growth of the Zaragoza Exhibition Centre stands out as it has become the third most important in Spain, both in events organized and in the economic volume generated. Moreover, it works with high technology equipment making it as a reference point as city of meetings with two conference centers: Zaragoza’s Auditorium and the Palacio de Congresos Expo Aragón.

It is a city full of lively spaces: large squares, spacious pedestrian areas in the centre, an area known for its bars, a huge city park, kilometres of bike lanes, etc. Zaragoza is one of those destinations where it is easy to feel at home. The city revolves around the large Plaza del Pilar, the setting for the city’s main celebrations. ‘El Tubo’, the quintessential district for tapas, is just five minutes from the iconic square. Zaragoza stands next to one of Spain’s most important rivers, the Ebro.

Visitors and residents alike can ride a bicycle along part of its banks, from the old town to the Luis Buñuel Metropolitan Park. On the way they can admire the different designs of its bridges, from the historical Puente de Piedra, stone bridge, to the avant-garde Pabellón Puente.

Jorge Azcón Navarro Mayor
Country
Spain
population
700,000
official website
www.zaragoza.es
Cuadrada 1 - Goya & La Seo. © Alex Esteban
© Agustin Martinez

Recommended

  • A first-chance plan

    Support for homeless people and prevention for those at risk are high priorities on Zaragoza’s municipal agenda. The Spanish city follows the First Chance Plan, launched in 2018 and adapted throughout the years to find tailored actions aligned with the housing first approach. 

    5 minute read
  • Forest of dreams

    Zaragoza has turned a plan to plant a tree for every citizen into an opportunity to sow the seeds of a sustainability sensibility among children and allow a new kind of co-creation governance model to take root in the city.

    5 minute read
  • The city is for me

    The spaces, objects and places around us shape our experience of the city - which is why ensuring equal access to public services is vital!

    4 minute read
  • News 16 January 2023

    Cultural heritage through youth’s eyes

    How to encourage young people to switch off their digital devices and discover local museums? Alice Strömberg, the youth curator of ‘My Castle, Your Castle’ in Sweden, shares her peer-learning experience in Zaragoza as part of the Cultural Heritage in Action project.

    4 minute read
  • Spotlight 27 June 2022

    Countless reasons to join UNITES

    Migration integration is high on cities’ agenda. Initiatives like the new UNITES project help them to exchange ideas and best practices to fine-tune integration strategies. Zaragoza, Oulu and Dusseldorf explain why they joined the Eurocities-led scheme.  

    7 minute read
  • Spotlight 23 June 2022

    A rainbow of cities

    From swimming pools to international exchanges, cities all over Europe are showing their support for LGBTQI+ rights during the June Pride Month.

    4 minute read
  • News 09 May 2022

    In cities, Europe Day sparks celebrations and a quest for peace

    Local leaders call for unity, solidarity and justice as cities mark Europe Day across the continent and stand in solidarity with Ukraine. 

    3 minute read
  • News 24 March 2022

    Eurocities Awards nominees 2022

    Cities dream, act and lead our future. A glance at this year’s Eurocities awards nominees and their forward-looking proposals.

    11 minute read
  • Spotlight 09 March 2022

    The only woman in the room

    Has the situation for women in local politics improved over the years? From Madrid, Gothenburg, Zaragoza, Tallinn and Barcelona, women involved in politics and social actions at the local level share their stories. 

    8 minute read
  • News 19 August 2021

    A silent pandemic

    The long term effects of the Covid-19 crisis on mental health are still to be studied, but people already need support and cities already made some moves.

    5 minute read
  • Spotlight 09 April 2021

    Europe, all in one

    Eight European cities are working towards a common vision: give Europeans one card, or app, to access services in all European cities.

    8 minute read
  • Spotlight 22 March 2021

    Investing in Europe and your city

    The InvestEU programme aims to mobilise investment to boost the economic recovery after the crisis caused by the pandemic, as well as the green and digital transition.

    2 minute read
  • News 20 March 2021

    Early music, hope for the future

    Hundreds of musicians from all over Europe play at a distance, but still together, to celebrate Early Music Day this Sunday.

    1 minute read